From Graph, July 2014.

YUZUKI: When I first met you, Wataru-san, it was Rose of Versailles 2001, wasn’t it?

KOZUKI: That was when I made a special appearance as Andre while I was in Senka.

YUZUKI: I was still only ken-3, but I wanted to talk to you at all costs, so I started the conversation with “So, about how you hold that cloak…” during the part where you were gradually ascending.

KOZUKI: Oh yeah! (haha)

YUZUKI: Even though it was so random, you taught me very politely!

KOZUKI: Well, I’d heard there was this really promising young otokoyaku named Yuzuki Reon…

YUZUKI: Seriously??

KOZUKI: Yep! Things like how your dancing was extraordinary, and that the hope was you’d carry us in the future!! So I thought, “Eeeh, you’re asking ME?” (haha)

YUZUKI: No way no way, it wasn’t like that at all. Afterwards you became top of Hoshigumi, and in your debut show A Song for Kingdoms the troupe settled nicely with laser focus on you at the center.

KOZUKI: Ahh, you guys… It was because everyone welcomed me so warmly…

YUZUKI: My memories of putting on your shows are really passionate… The upperclassmen felt as if you’d left on a trip and were so glad you’d returned, and we underclassmen were truly happy about all the things we got to learn from you. How long had you been apart from Hoshigumi?

KOZUKI: I moved to Soragumi, and then went to Senka, and I think it was about 5 years. As a member of Senka, I got to perform with each troupe’s top without belonging to a particular troupe, and it was so worthwhile and I got to study so many different things. From there it was decided that I’d return to Hoshigumi, and when the upperclassmen said “welcome home” to me, I teared up, and in my heart I really felt like I’d come home after all… So I was extremely happy. I thought alright, together with this Hoshigumi I’ll give it everything I’ve got left.

YUZUKI: That’s so moving! During A Song for Kingdoms it felt like Hoshigumi came together as one, and that’s still continuing even now.

KOZUKI: And it wasn’t really a show where everyone played the same role all the way through. At rehearsal for the last scene of act 1, even though I was facing front and singing, I really wanted to turn and face everyone and sing, and when I did everyone reciprocated so much and I remember that really clearly.

YUZUKI: (shy smile)

KOZUKI: I looked at everyones sparkling eyes, and that was the moment I felt like we were going forth, starting out together…

YUZUKI: Because you were like the sun in how much you shone your love onto us, each and every one of us was trying to receive that love, and we all wanted to reciprocate somehow, and collectively as a troupe we were able to. I wonder if I’m able to create that kind of atmosphere now… Even now I’m constantly thinking wow, Wataru-san was really amazing back then.

KOZUKI: Whenever I have a chance to meet with a Takarazuka choreography teacher through work, they tell me, “You’ve bestowed your energy even on current Hoshigumi,” and it makes me happy to think about it.

YUZUKI: Eeeeh?!

KOZUKI: They say “Chie is leading with everything she’s got!” I answer, “I’ll cheer her on next time I see her!” (haha)

YUZUKI: I’m so happy! You’ve also said you can feel Hoshigumi’s passion when you come to watch us… I want to make sure that continues forever. But, even if it’s mental, there are times when I can do my best and times I can’t… during those times I think back. What would Wataru-san have done? Because when you were watching us from close by, you were always the sun… But if I think about it now, you had so much going on…

KOZUKI: Hahaha. Me too, when I watch you sparkling on stage, I think, “You’ve got so much going on, keep it up Chie～” (haha). Of course, when I think about it everyone must have that same experience.

YUZUKI: Yes, they must. As for me, more than anything, I have so much respect for your attitude and your sincerity when you went out on stage!

KOZUKI: What?! What’s this all of a sudden! (haha)

YUZUKI: You taught all of the troupe members that there is a mountain’s worth of work to do before you have fun on stage!

KOZUKI: Hehe.

YUZUKI: Everyone in the troupe could feel your precision as you faced the audience. So, I want to make absolutely sure I place a lot of importance on that part.

KOZUKI: Right now everyone is looking at your back and giving it all they’ve got!

YUZUKI: (shaking her head) I’m looking at your back…

KOZUKI: No no, I had the opportunity to look at the backs of many fabulous senpai too. During the show DREAM, A DREAM a little while ago when I met with all those past generations of senpai, I remembered standing behind them and doing my best, and my heart filled up with feelings of gratitude. It’s these kinds of relationships that made me into the person I am today.

YUZUKI: Definitely.

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KOZUKI: There’s a sports festival this year too, isn’t there. I’ll never forget the sight of you going mad with rage when we lost the tug of war in the 90th anniversary sports day (haha).

YUZUKI: (bursts out laughing)

KOZUKI: Even your cute aspects will become overzealous on sports day. You’ll even get fired up about the after party.

YUZUKI: Haha.

KOZUKI: So, I was in charge of a group trip at the time of my retirement, right? So, so I did this cute maid cosplay (hehe). I learned in Hoshigumi that even just doing something like that with all my might and no regrets is really important. There might come a time when it proves useful.

YUZUKI: Eeeeh!? Seriously!?

KOZUKI: Yeah! It’s been tremendously useful to me. Maybe not really something I could put to use as an otokoyaku top star though (haha).

YUZUKI: Of course.

KOZUKI: Life is long! So nothing is pointless! Not even your after party performance!!

YUZUKI: (Haha).

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YUZUKI: In my shinjin kouen performances, I had the privilege of playing your roles. I learned so many things, and I feel nothing but gratitude.

KOZUKI: Really! Thank you!

YUZUKI: It allowed me to form my foundation, I’m really thankful for that fate. I recognized that I couldn’t have been more fortunate in my roles! Because you really spoke with what was best for me in mind, your words always left a sharp impression in my heart.

KOZUKI: Although it was difficult to decide when and how to convey certain things, because there are so many things I was glad my superiors said to me too, I thought I had to pass that on. And you’d listen so obediently!

YUZUKI: Aaahh, nooo, really…

KOZUKI: At those times I’d watch your eyes, your behavior, and the way you’d take on the performance, and I’d be so happy you gave me the sense that you’d actually gotten the message.

YUZUKI: You’d tell me things not just on the level of how to sing and dance.

KOZUKI: Really?

YUZUKI: I wonder if I’d call it the root motive or something… You just taught me so many things back then and I’m so glad you did.

KOZUKI: I don’t remember that clearly, but when I was in Soragumi, during rehearsal for a soran bushi* (*traditional song/dance) scene, I was saying things to everyone like, “Become fishermen in your hearts and cast your nets!!” (haha).

YUZUKI: Hahaha. But that’s the sort of thing I’m talking about! Motive!

KOZUKI: Even in the first national tour upon my return to Hoshigumi, the cheer during the line dance was really on my mind. Everyone was saying “hyuuu～” but I thought it should be different. You could also do it like “HYUUUU!!” with great joy, and I wondered if you weren’t going to put the feeling in there, what’s the point of saying anything at all?

YUZUKI: (nodding deeply) That’s true, isn’t it. The things I’ve been giving my careful attention lately might all be like that. As long as you understand those things, it opens the way for everything.

KOZUKI: Yes!

YUZUKI: I love the “Homage” scene in Neo Dandyism, and I usually watch it when I’m feeling down, but it moves me every time. If I think of what’s so great about it, of course it’s that everyone’s motivation is amazing!

KOZUKI: Thank you, that makes me happy.

YUZUKI: Just thinking of you appearing in that scene, my feelings toward you are already overflowing.

KOZUKI: It was made so that I could get involved with everyone little by little, wasn’t it. The end required so much energy and stamina!

YUZUKI: It was tough… But in the end, you walk to the back. You look at everyone and then, the way you leave!

KOZUKI: My emotions from that time are still carved in my heart. I’ll never forget it.

YUZUKI: I really love that scene!

KOZUKI: Speaking of scenes, it seems like my love scene rehearsal has gotten around too (haha). I heard that from Ryu-san when I ran into her during work recently, and I thought, huh, they were even doing it in Tsukigumi (haha).

YUZUKI: (Haha) you taught me so much too!

KOZUKI: You guys like me, don’t you (haha)

YUZUKI: Well you know, because the fans’ hearts ache at those parts.

KOZUKI: That’s right!

YUZUKI: So now I…

KOZUKI: Are you taking care of that?!

YUZUKI: Yes! I made sure to take care of it!

KOZUKI: Ooooh! (applause). It’s a very serious matter, of course!

YUZUKI: What you taught me, even in regard to dancing, was about the part of your feelings that dictate why you move a certain way.

KOZUKI: Your ability to leap is amazing, and so is your instep (haha).

YUZUKI: Yeah, I’m always destroying my shoes (haha).

KOZUKI: (haha). Now that you’ve added those skills to your heart, it’s like you’re unstoppable. So every time, I see that you’re dependable, and that even since you’ve become top you haven’t been stingy with your effort, and I really understand: this is the grand sum of what you’ve been aiming for as an otokoyaku, and it’s dazzling.

YUZUKI: I feel warm… I’m so moved!!

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KOZUKI: By the way, when I saw the 100th anniversary poster, it filled my heart so much I wanted to tell you about it. I thought wow, Chie is one of the representatives of Takarazuka… without thinking I snapped a picture!

YUZUKI: Thank you so much.

KOZUKI: I’m happy that the Chie I’ve watched since she was an underclassman has become this handsome!

YUZUKI: But, I’ve got to work harder… When we did “Eternal Prayer”, Junko-san (Ema Naoki) and the other upperclassmen worked together with those of us who played the “dream cross” roles in the rehearsal room and showed us how to dance.

KOZUKI: That did happen, didn’t it!

YUZUKI: Even though they told us so much, probably because I couldn’t get the heart of it, I couldn’t do it at all.

KOZUKI: Often you can only understand half at a time, and you’ll look at each other in rehearsal but it’s only the underclassmen who aren’t doing very well.

YUZUKI: Yes. But, since I hadn’t been shown many examples, I was really moved. I may not be able to do it like that… I’m teaching people and also learning myself, there are so many good things.

KOZUKI: Yeah, definitely!

YUZUKI: So I’ll work harder.

KOZUKI: You’re working hard enough though (haha)

YUZUKI: But Wataru-san, after you’d show us things, you’d stay late doing your own rehearsal, and you’d even come to the morning lessons. It was truly amazing! I always felt like when the heck does she sleep.

KOZUKI: Ahaha, I was really energetic, wasn’t I (hehe).

YUZUKI: No matter what, if I don’t get a good night’s sleep…

KOZUKI: That’s good, isn’t it?! It’s obvious! (haha). When I was in rehearsal I pushed myself to my limits. If I did that, during the actual performance I got more time to sleep, which made it feel really easy.

YUZUKI: Eeeeeeeh! (earnestly) Ahh…I’m glad I got to meet such a stoic person.

KOZUKI: What?! (haha)

YUZUKI: When I met you, you taught me the joy of stoically persevering all over again.

KOZUKI: I think I learned it from a lot of different people too. My Hoshigumi upperclassmen were like that, and then I was transferred to Soragumi, and I saw that Kotobuki-san and Yuuki Kaoru-san and others took lessons even on their days off, and I remember feeling a sense of impending crisis, like even though I dance with them I’m going to get left behind! From there I increased my efforts.

YUZUKI: Is that so.

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KOZUKI: You got to put on the revival of “Too Short a Time to Fall in Love,” didn’t you.

YUZUKI: I did! At the time of the first performance, I’d already graduated from shinjin kouen. I watched Kazu Ryouka who played your role darting around by your side, and I said “I was always the one doing that!!” (hehe)

KOZUKI: Hahahahaha

YUZUKI: I’d thought about how that was the only role of yours I did not have the pleasure of playing, so when the Chunichi performance was decided I texted you “It’s like fate!”

KOZUKI: I remember that.

YUZUKI: I was so happy.

KOZUKI: I also learned so many things from the real performers of my shinjin kouen roles like Shion Yuu-san and Asaji Saki-san, and even now they shower me with affection, but I think being able to build connections like that is not so common.

YUZUKI: I agree.

KOZUKI: So being able to hold on to my bonds with you up until now, for me that’s such a treasure… What I mean is, you make me so happy!

YUZUKI: Iyaaaaa!!

KOZUKI: It really makes me happy, going to see you perform.

YUZUKI: You come every time even though you’re so busy.

KOZUKI: I remember so well, when I had my debut performance, Hyuga Kaoru-san, Shion-san, Asaji-san, everyone came and they were so glad…

YUZUKI: Yes.

KOZUKI: Now I wonder if they were watching me with these kinds of feelings and I feel thankful all over again, and the fact that I also have someone like that makes me really happy… Aaah, I want to stay in Takarazuka forever!!

YUZUKI: (haha)

KOZUKI: Like, don’t snatch away my fun! (haha). It really makes me so happy.

YUZUKI: It’s love, isn’t it, your relationship with Takarazuka.

KOZUKI: It really is!

YUZUKI: The relationship between us and the fans is also like this, but the bonds of affection between upper and underclassmen in the company are so profoundly deep. We’re taught so much love, we’re all brought up with it.

KOZUKI: That’s really true.

YUZUKI: Moreover, how considerate you are to all your fans and your staff is so magnificent. I’m always thinking about how each and every thing about you is so impressive!

KOZUKI: No no, stop it. Every bit of it I learned from my senpai.

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YUZUKI: All the way up until the 100th anniversary, so that the fans have a good time, during their time everyone put out their very best to the point of exhaustion, yet there are people who say, even if it’s only a little something, is that really enough? I think it’s because people continue to say this that we are here currently, so I resolutely want to leave that behind too. And more than anything, I want to feel the happiness of being able to exist in Takarazuka at this moment, and I want to have fun!

KOZUKI: I think Takarazuka resembles a long-distance relay race. Everyone runs eagerly through her era, and then passes the sash on to the next person. The fact that it continues in this way despite various difficulties, that’s the power of everyone with this connection, the passion of the actresses, tied together by the love of the fans. I’ve gotten to wear that sash, and I passed it on to the next person, and now you’re wearing it, Chie!

YUZUKI: Yes.

KOZUKI: When I heard that we’d be doing this talk I was glad. It’s part of the charm of Takarazuka that we’re linked by these bonds, and I think that’s the reason we’ve been able to continue to the 100th year. I want everyone to continue running, tied together without breaking the chain.

YUZUKI: Ahhhh… Now I want to cry. Thank you so much for today!

KOZUKI: Thank you!